The growing demand for clean label products cleared the path for this natural food and beverage preservative.

Chinova Bioworks has announced an exclusive partnership with Hawkins Watts to distribute Chinova’s Chiber Mushroom Fiber Extract in the food and beverage markets of Australia and New Zealand.

By offering a clean-label, eco-friendly alternative to artificial preservatives, Chinova Bioworks says its mushroom fibre ingredient “disrupts the preservation category”.

Chinova Bioworks, a Canadian food technology company, is benefiting from its clean-label shelf-life extender, Chiber™, being added as the first mushroom fiber to be included in Whole Foods Market approved ingredient list.

“The process is similar to how most plant fibers are naturally extracted,” said Natasha Dhayagude, chief executive officer. “It involves drying the mushrooms, grinding them and then using heat and water to purify the fiber from the stems. The minimal and eco-friendly processing helps deliver a natural mushroom fiber that improves the finished product’s quality, freshness and shelf life.”